THE RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE 167 



legged Partridge, heard most frequently in spring, more 

 resembles the well-known whistle of the Quail, but is as loud 

 as that of the Common Partridge. 



It is in the pairing season, early in April, that the Eed- 

 lef^o-ed Partridge is most pugnacious. Then combats are of 

 frequent occurrence between rival males, and it is now that 

 the birds display singular fierceness against the Common 

 Partridge. The nesting season of the Eed-legged Partridge 

 is much earlier than that of the common species, the eggs 

 being laid by the end of April or beginning of May. The 

 nest is a slight structure, made amongst the growing clover 

 and corn, or in the thick vegetation at the bottom of a hedge. 

 It is merely a hollow scraped in the ground, and carelessly 

 lined with a few dead leaves and bits of withered herbage. 

 The eggs, generally twelve in number, but often only ten, and 

 sometimes as many as sixteen, are pale brownish-yellow 

 spotted and speckled with dark brown. Singularly enough 

 the Eed-legged Partridge lays her eggs at irregular intervals. 

 Most birds lay an egg each day until the full complement is 

 deposited, but the present species sometimes goes for several 

 days without laying. The nest is occasionally made some dis- 

 tance from the ground in the roof of a corn- or bean-stack — the 

 Pheasant and the Partridge repeatedly do the same. The 

 female sits closely, depending for her safety on the brown 

 colour of her upper plumage and the wealth of vegetation 

 which almost covers the nest. Only one brood is hatched in 

 the year, and both parents assist in rearing them, for be it 

 known that the Eed-legged Partridge is monogamous. 



In autumn the broods still keep together, and often unite 

 into large coveys for the winter months. They now visit the 

 stubbles to pick up the scattered grain, or wander from the 

 fields to the more open country, especially to commons which 

 are dry and covered with thick scrub and gorse. They always 

 appear to roost on the ground, but frequently enter plantations 



